CH 31 Veteran Readiness & Employment (VRE) Benefits

Welcome to USF! We look forward to working with you to ensure smooth processing of your VA educational benefits. Please see below for next steps:

• We are unable to waive your admission deposit. You will need to pay this out of pocket and will be reimbursed after the VA sends USF your first semester tuition and fees.
• Complete the required courses through Catharsis Productions (Graduate and Undergraduate). Failure to complete this course will result in a fee NOT covered by the VA.
• Complete required 'ICARE' course (Undergraduates only). Failure to complete this course will result in a fee NOT covered by the VA.
• Complete Webtrack (Undergraduates).
• Waive USF’s health insurance by the deadlines (Fall: Sept. 1, Spring: Feb. 1). CH 31 does not cover the cost of health insurance at USF and will be an out of pocket expense, if you choose to keep it. You will receive several email reminders about this.
• Complete required immunization requirements. Failure to complete this will result in a fee NOT covered by the VA and a registration hold. 
• Register for classes 
• Provide education plan (receive from your major/program advisor) to VR&E counselor.
• Have your counselor submit your authorization form to USF through the Tungsten portal.
• Submit USF’s Certification Request form. You will need to submit a copy of your DD214 - Please redact your SSN prior to sending in the DD214.

• Your PO Authorization lists what you are approved to be certified for during the term.
• Your authorization for textbook and supplies purchases are sent directly to the bookstore. 
  • You will be able to begin purchasing from the bookstore approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of classes.
  • Your PO will note what you will be allowed to purchase (ie. Up to $50 in supplies, Special approval for electronic purchases, No dual textbook purchases without permission, etc.)
  • Should you need any additional materials not mentioned on your PO, please contact your VRE counselor.
• Should your PO allow for a parking permit, you may go to Public Safety in the University Center 5th Floor to receive a permit.
  • The Registrar’s office Veterans team will communicate to Public Safety that you are able to receive a permit. You may reach out to us prior to approaching Public Safety.
  • It is your responsibility to display the parking permit on the dashboard of your vehicle while parked in a USF space.
• Student insurance is NOT covered by the VA. Be sure to complete the USF insurance waiver during the waiver period by the deadline (Fall: September 1, Spring: February 1).
  • Once you waive for the Fall term, it will be applied for the Spring term as well.
  • You will not need to waive insurance for the summer term.

• Note: Submission of certifications is not an automatic process.
• Only courses counting towards your degree will be certified. No courses taken outside of elective units will be certified.
• Study Abroad Courses:
  • Undergraduate Students: Please reach out to veterans@usfca.edu to confirm the program/institution you wish to attend is approved by the VA.
  • Graduate Students: Study abroad courses taken as elective units for your program will not be approved by the VA. If you wish to take this course, you will will need to pay for all tuition and fees associated out of pocket.
• VA students do not receive priority registration. You may check your registration access time via MyUSF or https://myusf.usfca.edu/registration
• Certifications for Fall are submitted July-August
• Certifications for Intersession are submitted late November - December
• Certifications for Spring are submitted late November - December
• Certifications for Summer are submitted late April - May
• You will receive an email from the VA when your certification has been submitted.
• Please notify veterans@usfca.edu if you have made any adjustments to your registration
  • This includes if you drop a course or receive a ‘W’ grade during the semester
• The very first housing stipend can take up to two months to deposit to your account and then it will come regularly at the beginning of each month. Please plan accordingly.
• To remain in compliance with the VA, USF is required to split up certifications if courses are shorter than the standard semester, ie: 6-8 week courses for graduate students. The VA will calculate what the housing allowance will be based on the shorter session dates. The VA will not pay for gaps in between classes, please plan accordingly.

Remote Classes during COVID-19 and the Monthly Housing Allowance

• Legislation was passed protecting VA benefits through Dec. 21, 2021. If classes are converted to online/remote due to COVID-19, the law authorizes that the classes can still be considered in-residence through June 1, 2022. This means the VA will still calculate the courses as in-person until June 1, 2022 for the housing stipend. 
• Any courses listed as online/remote beginning June 2, 2022 will be certified as online/remote to the VA.

• Students must submit VA eligibility documentation, register for classes and complete the VA certification request form in order to have VA benefits applied to their account.
• Continuing students only need to register and complete the certification request form each semester.
• Students must submit a certification request form each semester in order to utilize VA benefits at USF. Failure to do so may result in delays of VA housing benefits/ course registration cancellation. 

Billing

• Billing statements are available online 25 days before the semester due date.
• Students who submit the certification request form before statements are generated will have their benefit applied on their first billing statement.
• Students who submit the certification request form after statements are generated will have their benefit applied within 5 business days of submission. 
• Anticipated VA aid will show on billing statements as “bill to agency credit”. 
• Please be aware that bill to agency credits are calculated based on a student’s enrollment and entitlement; adjustments may be necessary due to registration changes or the actual dollar amount that is sent by the VA. Students are responsible for notifying the Veterans Office if or when any changes are made to their benefit eligibility. 
• Chapter 31 students are entitled to full coverage of tuition and mandatory fees.
• The VA will not cover the student health fee, international short term program fees, or any other optional fees or fines.

Payment

• Balances resulting from aid adjustments due to registration or entitlement changes are the student’s responsibility to pay. 
• Students are required to adhere to all payment due dates for any out of pocket expenses. Please contact specialbilling@usfca.edu with billing discrepancies questions. 
• Students with owing balances after their aid has been applied may consider using the payment plan for balances over $2,250.

Refund Policy

• Students who withdraw or take a leave of absence from the University on or after the first day of the semester must comply with the official USF Withdraw or Leave of Absence policy in order to be eligible for a refund.
• Pro-rated charges due to a withdrawal or leave of absence may not match VA tuition payments. Students will be responsible for balances not covered by the VA.
• Students that reduce registration before census date will not generate prorated charges as long as they keep some registration for the term.

Holds

• Students with unpaid balances may be subject to holds/ late fees.
• It is the student’s responsibility to pay late fees for balances not covered by the VA.
• Contact specialbilling@usfca.edu with any questions regarding holds/ late fees.

Financial Aid

• Financial aid refunds will only be processed for overpayments of refundable aid. 
• Students receiving additional financial aid should consult with a financial aid counselor to understand their award packages.

Parent Letters

• If you are taking courses at another institution during your time at USF and would like to be certified at the other institution, please complete the following to generate a parent letter. A parent letter is sent from the USF VA team to the other institution authorizing to certify as a guest student at that school.
• Complete the Petition to Enroll at Another Institution (PEAI) form and email the completed and approved copy to veterans@usfca.edu.
  • Provide the host institution's course dates and certifying official’s contact information to veterans@usfca.edu.
• The VA team will prepare your parent letter and send it to the contact information you provided. You will receive a copy of the email. We will also update your certification to reflect concurrent enrollment. 

We often have students who switch from Chapter 33 to Chapter 31 while at USF. The first step is to meet with a VR&E Counselor. 

• Provide education plan (receive from your program/major advisor) to counselor.
• Have your counselor submit your PO Authorization form through the Tungsten portal to be sent to USF.
• Be sure to begin this process the term PRIOR to your Post 9/11 benefits expiring.